To think that stimming (especially destructive or very intense) is potentially not helpful or even harmful in the long run?

As long as the stimming isn’t harmful or impacting learning then it’s all good. There’s lots of academic research on this and it’s really insightful 🙂

@MrFluffyDogIsMyBestFriend "human stimming is the same as an animal in a zoo indulging in repetitive behaviours due to mental health struggles caused by an unsuitable environment." - that's not what I would say that stimming is if you are talking about autism? Maybe if it's stimming caused by a mental health issue, or being in prolonged solitary confinement, perhaps. I think it's incorrect to suggest that children or adults with autism are in the kind of prolonged distress that animals in unsuitable confinement are in.

If stimming helps soothe someone whose nervous system is heightened why is that a problem? I have two autistic grandchildren. One stims by jumping up and down and arm flapping and the other doesn’t but masks very effectively. She tends to explode or have a meltdown so they both cope with a disregulated nervous system in different ways. So long as they don’t inflict harm on themselves or others why worry?

@ThatWaryGreenBiscuit

You seem to be saying that you are against destructive behaviour and self harm, which I feel we would all agree upon but you go on to say that it’s the repetition that isn’t good, and give the example of a dog chasing its tail.

I know that we don’t fully understand the brain. I think that only the smallest percentage of people in this world consistently do everything in their power to maximise their mind and body. The rest of us often choose to not stop doing something, because it simply makes us feel better. That is the most normal approach.

So when it comes to people with ASD, why should we expect them to fight against something that is helpful to them in favour of a possible undefined benefit in the long term. No one else does this to such an extreme.
Would it be better if I did more exercise? Probably yes, but because I’m a human and not a robot, I don’t feel the need to be programmed into the best possible model of myself. I don’t need an upgrade!

Perhaps as well as making our bodies stop stimming, we can also make them stop aging or growing tumours…

Well since you brought up the subject of animals, I would say that human stimming is the same as an animal in a zoo indulging in repetitive behaviours due to mental health struggles caused by an unsuitable environment. Humans are all living in unsuitable environments and the more unsuitable, the more anxious we become and the more we stim. So if you think about it like this, what you're suggesting is quite cruel is it not? Although I suppose things like crochet or playing the piano are stim-like behaviours and more productive.

Oh dear. You over-egged the pudding with "backed up by Reddit".

Don't feed it, people.

Backed up by Reddit threads? Thanks for the laugh op, I really needed it today.

You haven't given any examples of what you mean.

Are you autistic?

On Reddit there are subs where any outward sign of autism (ie stimming) is frowned upon, groups where it’s seen as a problem to be fixed. Is this where you’ve seen this? It might be written about but it’s bollocks.

I thought stimming was just involuntary habits that would be difficult to break. My son bites himself, which is quite upsetting, as a hard lump has now formed on his wrist from the frequency of biting himself. I have showed doctors and specialists, but none of them seem to be concerned at all

My DS stims a LOT by bouncing on his heels and uttering a little groany noise. It’s how we know he's content. If he’s unwell or unhappy the stimming stops and we are always relieved her hear him resume his bouncing again. Politely, OP, you know very little about this and probably need to have a lot more experience of being around neurodiverse individuals before you make sweeping conclusions about their natural behaviours.

Probably anything that marks an individual out as different. OP reads as someone who can’t handle any deviation from what she perceives as normal.

I’m not really sure you understand “stimming” and what it actually is. Politely I would advise really understanding it before trying to drive a debate. If you can’t put together an intelligent, knowledgeable point to start the discussion then it just becomes everyone’s job to educate you first. Perhaps educate yourself first on what you think you’re seeing and exactly how you think a more adaptive response can be achieved. Also think carefully about how this adaptive response needs to be achieved in a way that is not harmful.
You’re coming from a behavioural perspective and we know now just how damaging behaviour interventions such as ABA have been to people with autism.

Why do you think your instinct is superior to the breath of research on the subject and the lived experience of people with autism?

No, you obviously cannot train a brain to be autistic, and the suggestion is insulting. If a brain requires a certain sensory input, you might be able to train someone to mask, but they will be distressed.

My experience as a dm to an autistic dc is that whenever someone talks about "teaching life skills" they really mean "stopping your dc's autism from bothering others".

Specifically what type of stimming bothers you?

Please note however, that I don’t think someone who references their ‘research’ as Reddit, is actually for real!

I have autism and ADHD. Stimming helps me when I start feeling anxious, it usually allows me to self-regulate and to cope in the situation without becoming over-whelmed. I used to avoid stimming in public because I know it isn’t always socially acceptable but when I become completely overwhelmed the only coping mechanism that works is self-harm. I have developed less-obvious stims which still offer me sensory feedback without drawing too much attention but I am also less bothered now if people notice, stimming to avoid overwhelm is far more preferable to trying to mask/ suppress my stimming and becoming so overloaded I need to hurt myself as soon as I get home.

It’s a moot point.

Repetitive behaviour is part of an autism diagnosis and autistic people can no more stop stimming than somebody with a physical disability who limps can stop limping.

Instinctively to you doesn’t mean that’s the answer though. And try getting someone who needs a release to not show that energy, it’s actual cruelty. We’re the problem op, people! We need to not judge and talk to people who stim the way we would anyone else

I'm going to start telling people I went to the university of Reddit to back up talking absolute bollocks.

Do you realise that everyone 'stims' to some extent - things like hair twirling whilst on the phone, whistling/humming when happy or pen tapping in meetings is also stimming. Try to go for the next 24hrs only sitting perfectly upright in the 'correct' posture on your chair, being totally still when standing and making no extraneous movements with your limbs, head or face whatsoever (like a robot) and see how unnatural it feels and how much extra processing effort it takes up!

Reddit hardly counts as evidence.

Oh, well if Reddit backs up your argument, then you must be right! 🙄

I hope you're not a parent of a child who stims.
I'm autistic and I stim, to try and hold it in would be physically painful. I've learned ways to do it subtly in public, but when I'm at home I can be free to do as I like as long as it isn't hurting anyone. Children should also be free to do it as they like as long as they aren't hurting anyone.